Paddle toy

ABSTRACT

A toy of the type employing a paddle instrument and a ball instrument, characterized by the provision of alternate staggered offset striking surfaces on the paddle for engagement with the ball extending in a zigzag pattern away from a ball receiving area, successful employment of the toy requiring sequential advancement of the ball in a zigzag or staggered fashion by bouncing the same on said alternate staggered striking surfaces.

D United States Patent l 13,565,433

[ 72] Inventor Jeffrey D. Breslow [56] References Cited 1 N g an sg UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] App 0. Filed June 2,1969 2,021,472 11/1935 Woge 273/96 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [73] Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates Assistant Examiner-M. S. Siskind AttomeyI-iofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord ABSTRACT: A toy of the type employing a paddle instrument and a ball instrument, characterized by the provision of al- [54] f; temate staggered offset striking surfaces on the paddle for enalms rawmg gagement with the ball extending in a zigzag pattern away [52] 0.8. CI 273/96 from a ball receiving area, successful employment of the toy I [51] Int.Cl A63b 65/12 requiring sequential advancement of the ball in a zigzag or [50] Field of Search 273/95, staggered fashion by bouncing the same on said alternate stag- 102, 105, 96 gered striking surfacesv moors rov BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a toy of the a paddlelike striking instrument.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Generally speaking, toys and games employing paddlelike instruments and balls to be hit by the paddlelike instruments are old and known in the art. Examples of such are ping-pong paddles and balls for utilization in the. well-known game of ping-pong or the resilient ball connected to a resilient string which is further connected to a paddlelike instrument so that the user may attempt to repeatedly strike the ball as it returns by virtue of the force exerted by the resilient string.

Generally speaking, it is most desirable to provide a competitive element with respect to a toy or a game so that skills of different users can be matched. Further, it is desirable that such toys or games be of simple structure and seemingly, if not deceptively, simple to operate. In the, case ofthe game of pingpong, the proper enjoyment of the game requires two players. With the paddle game utilizing the'resilient ball attached to the resilient string or in the case of attempting to similarly perform with a ping-pong ball and paddle, when such toys are utilized by singular participants there is merely only the desire to continue the bouncing action as long as possible without interrupting the same. r

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved paddle and ball game. The best mode currently-contype utilizing a ball and .templated for carrying out the invention-includes the provision of a paddlelike instrument having a handle, a ball receiving surface opposite and remote from the handle, and a plurality of discrete ball striking areas, preferably alternately arranged and staggered along an extension of the handle portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paddlelike toy and ball'of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the reverse side of the toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan-view of thepaddlelike toy of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generallyalong the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

While this invention is susceptible of ,embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure'is. to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to'the embodiment illustrated.

Referring now to the drawings, thereis shown a paddle l2 and a ball 14 intended for use therewith. Preferably,'the ball 14 is of the well-known ping-pong type of ball but any other similarly light and easily rebounded ball may be used.

Paddle 12 is preferably formed of a relatively rigid plastic and includes a handle portion 16 defined by opposed arcuate extensions 18a and 18b of rib 20. Rib 22 generally bisects the arcuate extensions 18a and 18b and is substantially perpendicular to rib 20. The arcuate extensions 18a and 18b provide a generally circular cylindrical grasping surface which is easily and comfortably held within the hand of the user and furtherinto a ball striking portion 24 with rib 22 terminating at 26 at the distal end of ball striking portion 24. Rib 20 terminates in a ball receiving area 28 beyond the ball striking portion 24 and beyond the terminus 26 of rib 22. In this illustrated embodiment, the ball receiving portion 28 is provided with a generally circular cylindrical aperture 30 of a size and shape to nestably receive a ping-pong ball 14. It is to be understood that depending upon the specific nature and configuration of rebounding element or ball 14 utilized with the paddle, the size and shape of the opening 30 could be changed accordingly.

The ball striking portion 24 is provided with a plurality of generally flat, rectangular ball striking elements or vanes 32, 34, 36 and 38. In the illustrated embodiment, these elements 32 through 38 are shown as alternately disposed, lateral extensions of the rib 22 generally in a zigzag array. On each side of the rib 20 opposite each striking element 32 through 38 there is an interruption or space. Preferably there are two spaced striking elements extending laterally outwardly from each side of rib 20 to provide the four striking elements, but other nu merical combinations could be used.

Each of the ball striking elements or vanes 32 through 38 is provided with a generally planar upper ball striking surface 42, 44, 46 and 48, respectively, and a generally planar lower ball striking surface 52, 54,56 and 58. Each of the ball striking surfaces 42 through-48 and 52 through 58 are provided with indicia 42a, 44a, 46a and 480, respectively, and 52a, 54a, 56a and 58a, respectively, illustrating the desired sequential progression of the ball by rebounding the same on the ball striking surfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, it is to be noted that the indicia 42a through 48a and 52a through 58a are shown as numerical indicia, but it is to be understood that other progression indicating indicia, such as alphabetical indicia, could be utilized.

In intended use, the user grasps the handle portion l6 with a ball 14 in the receiving portion 28. The user then attempts to paddle or reboundthe ball 14 on the alternatively disposed striking elements of the striking portion 24 by first attempting to strike the ball with the upper striking surface .42 of element 32, thence surface 44 of element 34, thence surface 46 of element 36, thence surface 48 of element 38, at which time the paddle is to berotated by the user and the progression continued with the-ball next being struck by surface 58 of element 38, thence surface 56 of element 36, thence surface 54 of element 34, and finally surface 52 of element 32, at which time the ball is then to be brought to rest in the aperture 30 of the receiving portion28. It is to be understood that other variants of the progressive nature of the game could be employed. For example, the nature of the game could be changed so that the user is to progress along surfaces 42, 46, thence 56, 52. Many other progressive maneuvers could be employed as logical deviations from the direct progressive advancement disclosed herein.

'It can beseen that this invention provides a toy which can be utilized for personal, singular enjoyment as well as .competitive enjoyment. The game requires sufficient dexterity to strike alternately disposed striking surfaces and further to complete a rotational maneuver intermediate the progress of .the striking action. These movements can be easily un- I toy being a simple ping-pong ball and a preferably plastic molded paddle element formed in the simple structural arrangement shown herein, lend to the economy of production and low customer cost, thereby making the toy available to a wide range of intended purchasers and users.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and nounnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom,'as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

, I claim:

1. A paddlelike toy for use with a ball-like element comprising: a handle portion; a ball striking portion extending'from the handle portio he ball striking portion having a series of discrete striking elements separated by interruptions therebetween, and said striking elements and interruptions being positioned in an alternative sequence whereby successful employment of the paddle requires seriatim striking of the ball by progressive striking elements without interruption thereof.

2. The paddlelike toy of claim 1 wherein the ball striking portion includes a central member and wherein the striking elements are alternate lateral extensions of the central member of the striking portion.

3. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein numerical indicia are provided on the ball striking elements indicating the intended progressive striking pattern of the striking portion.

4. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein the ball striking portion terminates in a ball receivingarea.

5. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein the ball striking elements have upper and lower ball striking surfaces.

6. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the upper and lower ball striking surfaces are generally planar.

7. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the handle portion is substantially circular cylindrical in configuration to facilitate the rotation thereof.

8. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein numerical indicia are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the ball striking elements, the numerical indicia being indicative of the intended progressive movement of the ball along the ball striking portion.

9. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the ball striking portion terminates in a ball receiving area at the distal end thereof remote from the handle.

10. The paddlelike toy of claim 9 wherein a handle portion is generally circular cylindrical to facilitate rotation thereof and wherein progression indicating indicia are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the ball striking elements.

11. The paddlelike toy of claim 10 wherein the handle portion and ball striking portion include a central elongate rib with the handle portion comprising arcuate extensions of the rib and with the striking portion comprising alternate lateral planar extensions of the rib and with a ball receiving portion at the end of the ball striking portion, the ball receiving portion comprising an apertured circular extension of the rib. 

1. A paddlelike toy for use with a ball-like element comprising: a handle portion; a ball striking portion extending from the handle portion, the ball striking portion having a series of discrete striking elements separated by interruptions therebetween, and said striking elements and interruptions being positioned in an alternative sequence whereby successful employment of the paddle requires seriatim striking of the ball by progressive striking elements without interruption thereof.
 2. The paddlelike toy of claim 1 wherein the ball striking portion includes a central member and wherein the striking elements are alternate lateral extensions of the central member of the striking portion.
 3. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein numerical indicia are provided on the ball striking elements indicating the intended progressive striking pattern of the striking portion.
 4. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein the ball striking portion terminates in a ball receiving area.
 5. The paddlelike toy of claim 2 wherein the ball striking elements have upper and lower ball striking surfaces.
 6. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the upper and lower ball striking surfaces are generally planar.
 7. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the handle portion is substantially circular cylindrical in configuration to facilitate the rotation thereof.
 8. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein numerical indicia are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the ball striking elements, the numerical indicia being indicative of the intended progressive movement of the ball along the ball striking portion.
 9. The paddlelike toy of claim 5 wherein the ball striking portion terminates in a ball receiving area at the distal end thereof remote from the handle.
 10. The paddlelike toy of claim 9 wherein a handle portion is generally circular cylindrical to facilitate rotation thereof and wherein progression indicating indicia are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the ball striking elements.
 11. The paddlelike toy of claim 10 wherein the handle portion and ball striking portion include a central elongate rib with the handle portion comprising arcuate extensions of the rib and with the striking portion comprising alternate lateral planar extensions of the rib and with a ball receiving portion at the end of the ball striking portion, the ball receiving portion comprising an apertured circular extension of the rib. 